Seam ripping device



1366- 1, 1953 A. J. PARKER ETAL SEAM RIPPING DEVICE Filed April 19, 1951uw szvroim ALLEN JJPARKER Y LEO M. MURRAY,

flaw. $4,

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Patented Dec. 1, 1953 OFFICE SEAM RIPPING DEVICE Allen J. Parker and LeoM. Murray, West Palm Beach, Fla.

Application April 19, 1951, Serial No. 221,888

1 Claim.

This invention relates to scam ripping devices and has particularreference to a device which will quickly and accurately sever the seamthreads of textile materials progressively without danger of cutting orinjuring the fabric of the seam.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple seamripping tool equipped with thread cutting blades and leading feelerfingers that ride over the threads and accurately guide the cuttingblades in a manner to separate the fabric so that the cutter blades willengage only the threads of the seam.

A further object of the invention resides in a novel seam ripping toolhaving a starter blade for opening a part of the seam to enable theinsertion of the ripper, after which the ripper can be quickly andeasily shifted throughout the length of the seam.

sides in a seam ripping device which will be self cleaning and willavoid the accumulation of thread particles therein which might tend tointerfere with the cutting action of the blades. j

Other novel features of construction and operation will be readilyapparent during the course of the following description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, wherein has been shown the preferredembodiments of the device and wherein like characters of reference are,

employed to denote like parts throughout.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a seam ripping tool constructed inaccordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged edge view thereof,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a sectional View at right angle to Figure 3, taken on line5-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a horizontal section, taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3, ,v

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the ripper, illustratingthe manner of engaging the seam,

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a modified form of the ripper,

Figure 8 is an edge view of the structure of Figure 7, and

Figure 9 is a side view of a further modified form of the ripper.

Referring specifically to the drawings and particularly to Figures 1 to6 inclusive, the numeral 5 designates a handle portion, formed ofplastic or other serviceable and ornamental material- The Anotherimportant object of the invention re 20 handle 5 is apertured axially atits lower end for the seating reception of a stud 6, formed preferablyas an integral part of a, ripper head, designated as a whole by thenumeral 1. The head i may be cast or formed of sheet metal, bent uponitself to form slightly spaced apart side walls 8, having a connectingrear wall 9. The forward or leading edge of the ripper is notched inpreferably V-shape, for exposing the cutting edges of a pair ofoverlapping rotary cutter blades H), positioned between the side Walls 8and suitably maintained in their overlapping cutting relation, bywashers H, the blades being freely rotatable on shafts l2, having afixed bearing in the side walls 8. The forward or leading edge of theripper is maintained in position against inward shifting movement of theside walls a, by bending the edges l3 inwardly to contacting relation.The lower end of the head is preferably formed open, as shown in Figure3, whereby there will beno accumulation of dirt between the side walls.Housed within the head i and supported between the side walls 5 againstdisplacement, is a preferably spring wire feeler device, having aU-shaped body portion Hi, the rear portion of which is securely clampedbetween the walls 8 by pressing the side walls 8 inwardly to form ribs15. The upper portion l6 passes through a suitable opening in theleading edge of the head and its free end is curved downwardly at H andthen upwardly at 8, with its terminal end anchored in an opening of theleading edge, forming a rounded feeler finger, the lower extremity ofwhich is substantially on the center cutting line of the cutter bladesHi. The lower portion of the wire is bent outwardly at i9 and projectsthrough and beyond the leading edge of the head, where it is bentupwardly and curved upon itself, forming a cooperating feeler finger 20for flexible engagement normally with the finger H. The finger 23 isfree to flex downwardly for riding contact over the threads of the seamas the device is shifted forwardly in the line of thearrow, shown inFigure 6. Means are employed to make an initial cut through the threadsof the seam as a starter opening, comprising a triangular sharpenedblade 2|, preferably formed integral with the head and projectingoutwardly of the rear wall 9.

In the use of this form of the invention, the operator having selectedthe particular article having the seam to be ripped, carefully employsthe blade 2! to sever several of the threads of the seam, or sufficientnumber to permit the insertion of the ripper head through the opening.

This initial cutting having been accomplished, the head 1 is insertedthrough the opening and the feeler fingers engaged with the threads ofthe seam. The operator then draws the device forward, causing the feelerfingers to successively ride over the threads, feeling its way along andaccurately guiding the device so that there will be no tendency forv atwisting, or. lateral motion. As the threads pass from between the.fingers, they are engaged by the cutter blades, which quickly andcleanly cut the threads, leaving no ragged ends likely to gather aroundthe head". The rotary blades tend to be self cleaning and avoid theaccumulation of dirt. The gripping. of the threads successively willalways accurately guide the cutters, since the fingers only engage thespace between the threads. they ride'ovei hence the cutter has notendency to cut. to the side. The finger I! remains fixed, while thefinger 20 flexes downwardly to ride over the threads.

The seam ripper illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 and designated as a wholeby the numeral 22, embodies a handle 23, supporting a ripper head 24.The head 24 is formed preferably of spring steel and has a handleattaching stud and a tapered feeler 25. Fixed rearwardly of the feeler25, is a cutter bracket 26, rotatably housing cutter wheels or blades27'. The leading edge of the bracket is diagonally notched to expose thecutting edges of the blades. While the bracket has been shown as beingintegral with the head 2d, it will be apparent that the device could befabricated and soldered together. The head 24 is formed of preferablycircular shape with the free end 28 being formed flexible and rounded toprovidea flexible and shiftable feeler finger 2-9 that has normalcontact with the rounded edge of the finger 25. on the center line ofthe cutter blades. The finger 29 is capable of moving toward and from.the finger 25 for riding contact over the cross threads of the seam. Theinitial seam cutter is in the form, of" a, sharpened blade 30,rearwardly' extendingfrom the head and fixed with respect thereto.

The use of this form of the invention is similar to that described withrespect to that shown in Figures 1 to 6, in that the seam having beeninitially cut, the head 24 is inserted through the opening and pulledforwardly, with the fingers 25 and 29 riding over the cross threads andsnapping into the space between the threads, which action insures thatthe cutter blades 21 will be directed in an accurate line toward thethreads with no tendency toward side shifting movement.

The form of the invention shown in Figure 9, is identical in action tothat of the first and second forms and consists preferably of a onepiece wire head portion ofcircular form having contacting feeler fingers3! and; 32. The finger 3! is extended for fixed engagement with. asuitable handle 33. I'nwardly of the finger- 3|, a fixed cutting knife34 is soldered or otherwise attached to the head and ispositioned inparallel alignment with the fingers and in an identical path of travel.The finger 3-2 is flexible toward and from the finger 31 as the fingersengage the threads of the seam. The knife is preferably curved to imparta better cutting action on the threads. A knife 35, fixed to the rear ofthe head, serves as the seam starter for opening the seam.

It will be apparent from the foregoing, that a very simple and highlyefficient ripper has been provided for quickly and easily opening theseams of garments or the like in a manner calculated to insure againstdamage to the fabric. The feeler fingers guide the device along the seamby alternately riding over the cross threads and then snapping into thespace between the threads, thus accurately holding the cutter blades inthe direct line of threads at all times during, the travel of the devicealong the seam. After openinggthe. seam with either of the blades 2!, 30or 35, the devices are inserted through the opening and the feelerfingers engaged with the first threads, after which the device can bedrawn quickly and easily for the full length of the seam without thenecessity of the operator using care to prevent; twisting of the cutterand damage to the fabric. The several cutter blades are selfcleaning'and will avoid accumulation of lint or particles of threadsthat might interfere with the proper cutting action. The devices aresimple, cheap to manufacture and result in a very considerable savingof: time in opening seams.

It is to be understood, that the invention is not limited to the precisearrangement of parts, but that changes in the shape, size, arrangementof parts and materials employed, may be resorted to as readily fallwithin the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

A seam ripping tool embodying a head porttion formed with fiat paralleland spaced apart walls connected at one edge, the forward edge formedopen and notched intermediate its length, a pair of bevelled rotarycutter wheels supported in the head in overlapping relation with theirjoint cutting edges exposed through the notch, a guide device foroverriding engagement with the cross threads of'the seam, consisting ofa U- shaped flexible spring wire anchored between the walls of'the head,with one leg of'the wire extending throughthe open edge of the head andbent to form a rounded guide finger with its terminal endanchoredlinth'e head, the opposite leg of the wire extended. through.the open edge of the head. and bent, to form a rounded flexible. guidefinger that normally flexibly contacts. the first named finger,thefingers-at. their line of contact being in a direct line. of cuttingaction of the rotary cutters, the cutters and fingers being in the samevertical plane for shifting movement along the seam to be ripped, thefingers adapted to traverse the seam by overriding and underridingsimultaneously the threads of the-seam andmaintaining an advancedflexible contact with the threads throughout the ripping of the seam,the fingers guiding the rotary cutter wheels in an accurate path ofcutting action to the threads.

ALLEN J... PARKER. LEO M. MURRAY.

References Cited in the file of this. patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date.

255,102 Danheim Mar. 21, 1882 604,675 Fisher May 24, 1898 742,946Wineman et a1 Nov- 3, 190.3

1,496,228 Jones June 3,1924 1,884,377 Temple Oct. 25, 1932 2,249,093Stanton July 15, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 4,529 GreatBritain Sept. 22, 1883

